arXiv subjects

X. L. Yan

Publications and source records attributed to X. L. Yan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Investigation of Direct Nuclear Reactions in a Storage Ring Using In-Ring Detection

\textbf{Background:} Experiments involving nuclear reactions in a storage ring offer exceptional possibilities for precise measurements in inverse kinematics. These experiments provide excellent angular and energy resolution by particle spectroscopy, in addition to high luminosities. However, the extremely low-pressure environment maintained in the storage rings poses significant difficulties for experiments employing detectors or any outgassing material in the ring. \textbf{Purpose:} To investigate nuclear reactions in inverse kinematics using the storage-ring technique. The reactions were induced by scattering of a ${}^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ beam off a hydrogen target at an energy of 50~MeV/u. \textbf{Method:} A beam of fully stripped ${}^{20}$Ne ions was injected into the ESR storage ring at an energy of 50 MeV/u. The beam interacted with an internal hydrogen gas-jet target. An ultra-high vacuum compatible detector setup was installed around the gas jet inside the ring to measure the recoiling particles generated by nuclear reactions. \textbf{Results:} Multiple reaction channels were observed during the experiment. In particular, we present the results from studies on elastic and inelastic scattering, as well as the neutron transfer reaction ${}^{20}\mathrm{Ne}(p,d){}^{19}\mathrm{Ne}^*$. The experimental data were compared to calculations that took into account the most significant excited states, using a coupled-reaction channel approach. A very good agreement with the experimental data was achieved. \textbf{Conclusions:} The present results are the first demonstration of the investigation transfer reactions using detectors directly installed in the ring. This provides an important proof-of-principle for prospective studies with far-from-stability radioactive beams in the future.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

$Z=14$ Magicity Revealed by the Mass of the Proton Dripline Nucleus $^{22}$Si

Using the $B\rho$-defined isochronous mass spectrometry technique, we conducted the first mass measurement of the proton dripline nucleus $^{22}$Si. We confirm that $^{22}$Si is bound against particle emission with $S_p/S_{2p}=+1412(114)/+229(54)$ keV, fixing the proton dripline location for the Si element. By analyzing the mass differences of the neighboring $sd$-shell nuclei, we find that $^{22}$Si exhibits a doubly-magic character similar to its mirror partner $^{22}$O, and that the mirror energy difference of $^{22}$Si-$^{22}$O deviates from the predictions assuming mirror symmetry. Gamow shell-model calculations reveal that the average occupations of valence protons in $^{22}$Si are nearly identical to those of valence neutrons in $^{22}$O, supporting the $Z=14$ magicity in $^{22}$Si. The observed mirror-symmetry breaking is attributed to the extended proton distribution in $^{22}$Si arising from a small contribution of the unbound $\pi2s_{1/2}$ orbital.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Effective proton-neutron interaction in mirror nuclei

Effective proton-neutron interactions, $V_{pn}$, in mirror nuclei are systematically analyzed using the ground-state atomic masses. A mirror symmetry of $V_{pn}$ is found for bound nuclei with a standard deviation of $\sigma=32$ keV. However, this mirror symmetry is apparently broken for some mirror-nuclei pairs when a proton-unbound nucleus is involved in extracting the $V_{pn}$ values. Such a mirror-symmetry breaking is attributed to the Thomas-Ehrman shift of the proton-unbound nucleus and investigated by using the Gamow shell model. It is concluded that the Thomas-Ehrman shift originates mainly from reduced Coulomb energies in the proton-unbound nuclei due to the extended radial density distribution of valence protons.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2025

Simultaneous existence of the ocsillations, counterstreaming flows and mass injections in solar quiescent prominences

Solar prominences are very spectacular structures embedded in the tenuous and hot solar corona. The counterstreaming flows, a common feature in solar quiescent prominences, have been discovered for more than twenty years. However, the mechanism driving the counterstreaming flows is still elusive. To unveil the nature of this phenomenon, we analyzed the data of a quiescent prominence observed by the New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST), the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), and the Solar Dynamical Observatory (SDO). It is found that there is a distinct longitudinal oscillation of prominence plasma along the higher part of the prominence spine in H$\alpha$ observations. The oscillation period is approximately 83 minutes and the amplitude is about 32 Mm. The counterstreaming flows are dominant in the middle part of the prominence spine. The velocities of the counterstreaming flows range from about 4 km s$^{-1}$ to 11 km s$^{-1}$. Moreover, the intermittent mass flows with the upward plumes from the top of the bubbles and tornado-like barbs are observed to be injected into the lower part of the prominence spine from the lower atmosphere. The velocities of these injected mass flows range from about 3 km s$^{-1}$ to 30 km s$^{-1}$. Some injected mass flows exhibit redshifted Doppler signals, while others exhibit blueshifted signals. Based on these high resolution observations, it is found that different parts of the prominence spine exhibit the different dynamic characteristics. These results further advance the understanding of the ubiquitous counterstreaming flows in solar quiescent prominences.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

The hidden magnetic structures of a solar intermediate filament revealed by the injected flare material

Solar filaments are spectacular objects in the solar atmosphere, consisting of accumulations of cool, dense, and partially ionized plasma suspended in the hot solar corona against gravity. The magnetic structures that support the filament material remain elusive, partly due to the lack of high resolution magnetic field measurements in the chromosphere and corona. In this study, we reconstruct the magnetic structures of a solar intermediate filament using EUV observations and two different methods, to follow the injection of hot material from a B-class solar flare. Our analysis reveals the fine-scale magnetic structures of the filament, including a compact set of mutually wrapped magnetic fields encasing the cool filament material, two groups of helical magnetic structures intertwining with the main filament, and a series of arched magnetic loops positioned along the filament. Additionally, we also find that the northern footpoints of the helical structures are rooted in the same location, while their southern footpoints are rooted in different areas. The results obtained in this study offer new insights into the formation and eruption mechanisms of solar filaments.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

Mass measurements of neutron-rich nuclides using the Canadian Penning Trap to inform predictions in the $r$-process rare-earth peak region

Studies aiming to determine the astrophysical origins of nuclei produced by the rapid neutron capture process ($r$ process) rely on nuclear properties as inputs for simulations. The solar abundances can be used as a benchmark for such calculations, with the $r$-process rare-earth peak (REP) around mass number ($A$) 164 being of special interest due to its presently unknown origin. With the advancement of rare isotope beam production over the last decade and improvement in experimental sensitivities, many of these REP nuclides have become accessible for measurement. Masses are one of the most critical inputs as they impact multiple nuclear properties, namely the neutron-separation energies, neutron capture rates, $β$-decay rates, and $β$-delayed neutron emission probabilities. In this work, we report masses of 20 neutron-rich nuclides (along the Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Gd, Dy and Ho isotopic chains) produced at the CAlifornium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) facility at Argonne National Laboratory. The masses were measured with the Canadian Penning trap (CPT) mass spectrometer using the Phase-Imaging Ion-Cyclotron-Resonance (PI-ICR) technique. We then use these new masses along with previously published CPT masses to inform predictions for a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) procedure aiming to identify the astrophysical conditions consistent with both solar data and mass measurements. We show that the MCMC responds to this updated mass information, producing refined results for both mass predictions and REP abundances.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

Nuclear structure of dripline nuclei elucidated through precision mass measurements of $^{23}$Si, $^{26}$P, $^{27,28}$S, and $^{31}$Ar

Using the B$ρ$-defined isochronous mass spectrometry technique, we report the first determination of the $^{23}$Si, $^{26}$P, $^{27}$S, and $^{31}$Ar masses and improve the precision of the $^{28}$S mass by a factor of 11. Our measurements confirm that these isotopes are bound and fix the location of the proton dripline in P, S, and Ar. We find that the mirror energy differences of the mirror-nuclei pairs $^{26}$P-$^{26}$Na, $^{27}$P-$^{27}$Mg, $^{27}$S-$^{27}$Na, $^{28}$S-$^{28}$Mg, and $^{31}$Ar-$^{31}$Al deviate significantly from the values predicted assuming mirror symmetry. In addition, we observe similar anomalies in the excited states, but not in the ground states, of the mirror-nuclei pairs $^{22}$Al-$^{22}$F and $^{23}$Al-$^{23}$Ne. Using $ab~ initio$ VS-IMSRG and mean field calculations, we show that such a mirror-symmetry breaking phenomeon can be explained by the extended charge distributions of weakly-bound, proton-rich nuclei. When observed, this phenomenon serves as a unique signature that can be valuable for identifying proton-halo candidates.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

Two successive EUV waves and a transverse oscillation of a quiescent prominence

In this paper, we carry out multiwavelength observations of two successive extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) waves originating from active region (AR) NOAA 13575 and a transverse oscillation of a columnar quiescent prominence on 2024 February 9. A hot channel eruption generates an X3.4 class flare and the associated full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME), which drives the first EUV wave front (WF1) at a speed of $\sim$835 km s$^{-1}$. WF1 propagates in the southeast direction and interacts with the prominence, causing an eastward displacement of the prominence immediately. Then, a second EUV wave front (WF2) is driven by a coronal jet at a speed of $\sim$831 km s$^{-1}$. WF2 follows WF1 and decelerates from $\sim$788 km s$^{-1}$ to $\sim$603 km s$^{-1}$ before arriving at and touching the prominence. After reaching the maximum displacement, the prominence turns back and swings for 1$-$3 cycles. The transverse oscillation of horizontal polarization is most evident in 304 Å. The initial displacement amplitude, velocity in the plane of the sky, period, and damping time fall in the ranges of 12$-$34 Mm, 65$-$143 km s$^{-1}$, 18$-$27 minutes, and 33$-$108 minutes, respectively. There are strong correlations among the initial amplitude, velocity, period, and height of the prominence. Surprisingly, the oscillation is also detected in 1600 Å, which is totally in phase with that in 304 Å.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

Phase-Imaging Ion-Cyclotron-Resonance Mass Spectrometry with the Canadian Penning Trap at CARIBU

The Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer (CPT) has conducted precision mass measurements of neutron-rich nuclides from the CAlifornium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) of the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) facility at Argonne National Laboratory using the Phase-Imaging Ion-Cyclotron-Resonance (PIICR) technique for over half a decade. Here we discuss the CPT system, and methods to improve accuracy and precision in mass measurement using PI-ICR including some optimization techniques and recently studied systematic effects.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Ground-state mass of $^{22}$Al and test of state-of-the-art \textit{ab initio} calculations

The ground-state mass excess of the $T_{z}=-2$ drip-line nucleus $^{22}$Al is measured for the first time to be $18103(10)$ keV using the newly-developed B$ρ$-defined isochronous mass spectrometry method at the cooler storage ring in Lanzhou. The new mass excess value allowed us to determine the excitation energies of the two low-lying $1^+$ states in $^{22}$Al with significantly reduced uncertainties of 51 keV. Comparing to the analogue states in its mirror nucleus $^{22}$F, the mirror energy differences of the two $1^+$ states in the $^{22}$Al-$^{22}$F mirror pair are determined to be $-625(51)$ keV and $-330(51)$ keV, respectively. The excitation energies and the mirror energy differences are used to test the state-of-the-art \textit{ab initio} valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group calculations with four sets of interactions derived from the chiral effective field theory. The mechanism leading to the large mirror energy differences is investigated and attributed to the occupation of the $πs_{1/2}$ orbital.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

$Bρ$-defined isochronous mass spectrometry: a new approach for high-precision mass measurements of short-lived nuclei

A novel technique for broadband high-precision mass measurements of short-lived exotic nuclides is reported. It is based on the isochronous mass spectrometry (IMS) and realizes simultaneous determinations of revolution time and velocity of short-lived stored ions at the cooler storage ring CSRe in Lanzhou. The new technique, named as the $Bρ$-defined IMS or $Bρ$-IMS, boosts the efficiency, sensitivity, and accuracy of mass measurements, and is applied here to measure masses of neutron-deficient $fp$-shell nuclides. In a single accelerator setting, masses of $^{46}$Cr, $^{50}$Fe and $^{54}$Ni are determined with relative uncertainties of (5~-~6)$\times10^{-8}$, thereby improving the input data for testing the unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark mixing matrix. This is the technique of choice for future high-precision measurements of the most rarely produced shortest-lived nuclides.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

$Bρ$-defined Isochronous Mass Spectrometry and Mass Measurements of $^{58}$Ni Fragments

A novel isochronous mass spectrometry, termed as $Bρ$-defined IMS, is established at the experimental cooler-storage ring CSRe in Lanzhou. Its potential has been studied through high precision mass measurements of $^{58}$Ni projectile fragments. Two time-of-flight detectors were installed in one of the straight sections of CSRe, thus enabling simultaneous measurements of the velocity and the revolution time of each stored short-lived ion. This allows for calculating the magnetic rigidity $Bρ$ and the orbit length $C$ of each ion. The accurate $Bρ(C)$ function has been constructed, which is a universal calibration curve used to deduce the masses of the stored nuclides. The sensitivity to single stored ions, quickness, and background-free characteristics of the method are ideally suited to address nuclides with very short lifetimes and tiniest production yields. In the limiting case of just a single particle, the attained mass resolving power allows one us to determine its mass-over-charge ratio $m/q$ with a remarkable precision of merely $\sim5$ keV. Masses of $T_z = -3/2$ fp-shell nuclides are re-determined with high accuracy, and the validity of the isospin multiplet mass equation is tested up to the heaviest isospin quartet with $A = 55$. The new masses are also used to investigate the mirror symmetry of empirical residual proton-neutron interactions.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

Grow-up of a Filament Channel by Intermittent Small-scale Magnetic Reconnection

Filament channel (FC), a plasma volume where the magnetic field is primarily aligned with the polarity inversion line, is believed to be the pre-eruptive configuration of coronal mass ejections. Nevertheless, evidence for how the FC is formed is still elusive. In this paper, we present a detailed study on the build-up of a FC to understand its formation mechanism. The New Vacuum Solar Telescope of Yunnan Observatories and Optical and Near-Infrared Solar Eruption Tracer of Nanjing University, as well as the AIA and HMI on board Solar Dynamics Observatory are used to study the grow-up process of the FC. Furthermore, we reconstruct the non-linear force-free field (NLFFF) of the active region using the regularized Biot-Savart laws (RBSL) and magnetofrictional method to reveal three-dimension (3D) magnetic field properties of the FC. We find that partial filament materials are quickly transferred to longer magnetic field lines formed by small-scale magnetic reconnection, as evidenced by dot-like Hα/EUV brightenings and subsequent bidirectional outflow jets, as well as untwisting motions. The Hα/EUV bursts appear repeatedly at the same location and are closely associated with flux cancellation, which occurs between two small-scale opposite polarities and is driven by shearing and converging motions. The 3D NLFFF model reveals that the reconnection takes place in a hyperbolic flux tube that is located above the flux cancellation site and below the FC. The FC is gradually built up toward a twisted flux rope via series of small-scale reconnection events that occur intermittently prior to the eruption.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

Particle identification and revolution time corrections for the isochronous mass spectrometry in storage rings

In the isochronous mass spectrometry (IMS) performed at storage rings, masses of short-lived nuclides are determined through precision measurements of their mean revolution times. However, the distribution of revolution times could be seriously deteriorated by instabilities of the ring's magnetic fields. This becomes a significant obstacle for the particle identifications and mass determinations. A data analysis method is described in this paper which is able to largely remove the uncertainties caused by the magnetic field instabilities in the particle identifications and the mean revolution times. We show that this method is very effective for the IMS experiments even when the magnetic fields of a storage ring vary slowly up to a level of $ΔB/B\sim 10^{-4}$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2020

Mass measurements for $T_{z}=-2$ $fp$-shell nuclei $^{40}$Ti, $^{44}$Cr, $^{46}$Mn, $^{48}$Fe, $^{50}$Co and $^{52}$Ni

By using isochronous mass spectrometry (IMS) at the experimental cooler storage ring CSRe, masses of short-lived $^{44}$Cr, $^{46}$Mn, $^{48}$Fe, $^{50}$Co and $^{52}$Ni were measured for the first time and the precision of the mass of $^{40}$Ti was improved by a factor of about 2. Relative precisions of $δm/m=(1-2)\times$10$^{-6}$ have been achieved. Details of the measurements and data analysis are described. The obtained masses are compared with the Atomic-Mass Evaluation 2016 (AME$^{\prime}$16) and with theoretical model predictions. The new mass data enable us to extract the higher order coefficients, $d$ and $e$, of the quartic form of the isobaric multiplet mass equation (IMME) for the $fp$-shell isospin quintets. Unexpectedly large $d$- and $e$-values for $A=44$ quintet are found. By re-visiting the previous experimental data on $β$-delayed protons from $^{44}$Cr decay, it is suggested that the observed anomaly could be due to the misidentification of the $T=2$, $J^π=0^{+}$ isobaric analog state (IAS) in $^{44}$V.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2020

Dynamics evolution of a solar active-region filament from quasi-static state to eruption: rolling motion, untwisting motion, material transfer, and chirality

To better understand magnetic structure and eruptive process of solar filaments, a solar active-region filament (labeled F2) eruption associated with a B-class flare was investigated by using high-resolution H$α$ data from the 1 m New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST), combined with EUV observations of the Solar Dynamical Observatory (SDO). The filament F2 was disturbed by another filament (labeled F1) eruption that experienced a whip-like motion. Before the filament F2 eruption, the Dopplergrams show that the southern and the northern parts of the filament F2 body exhibit blueshift and redshift along the filament spine, simultaneously. It implies that the filament F2 was rolling from one side to the other. During the filament F2 eruption, the Doppler velocity shifts of the filament body are opposite to that before its eruption. It demonstrates that the filament body exhibits an untwisting motion, which can be also identified by tracing the movement of the eruptive filament threads. Moreover, it is found that the material of the filament F2 was transferred to the surrounding magnetic field loops, which is caused by magnetic reconnection between the filament F2 and the surrounding magnetic loops. According to the right-bearing threads of the filament F2 before its eruption, it can be deduced that the filament F2 is initially supported by a sheared arcade. The following observations reveal that the twisted magnetic structure of the filament F2 formed in the eruption phase.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

Triggering mechanism and material transfer of a failed solar filament eruption

Soar filament eruptions are often associated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are the major impacts on space weather. However, the fine structures and the trigger mechanisms of solar filaments are still unclear. To address these issues, we studied a failed solar active-region filament eruption associated with a C-class flare by using high-resolution H$α$ images from the New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST), supplemented by EUV observations of the Solar Dynamical Observatory (SDO). Before the filament eruption, a small bi-pole magnetic field emerged below the filament. And then magnetic reconnection between the filament and the emerging bi-pole magnetic field triggered the filament eruption. During the filament eruption, the untwisting motion of the filament can be clearly traced by the eruptive threads. Moreover, the foot-points of the eruptive threads are determined by tracing the descending filament materials. Note that the filament twisted structure and the right part of the eruptive filament threads cannot be seen before the filament eruption. These eruptive threads at the right part of the filament are found to be rooting in the weak negative polarities near the main negative sunspot. Moreover, a new filament formed in the filament channel due to material injection from the eruptive filament. The above observations and the potential field extrapolations are inclined to support that the filament materials were transferred into the overlying magnetic loops and the nearby filament channel by magnetic reconnection. These observations shed light on better understanding on the complexity of filament eruptions.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

New Test of Modulated Electron Capture Decay of Hydrogen-Like $^{142}$Pm Ions: Precision Measurement of Purely Exponential Decay

An experiment addressing electron capture (EC) decay of hydrogen-like $^{142}$Pm$^{60+}$ ions has been conducted at the experimental storage ring (ESR) at GSI. The decay appears to be purely exponential and no modulations were observed. Decay times for about 9000 individual EC decays have been measured by applying the single-ion decay spectroscopy method. Both visually and automatically analysed data can be described by a single exponential decay with decay constants of 0.0126(7) s$^{-1}$ for automatic analysis and 0.0141(7) s$^{-1}$ for manual analysis. If a modulation superimposed on the exponential decay curve is assumed, the best fit gives a modulation amplitude of merely 0.019(15), which is compatible with zero and by 4.9 standard deviations smaller than in the original observation which had an amplitude of 0.23(4).

nucl-ex↗